Educate me on Calcium Reactors

[web104tv]

I'm assuming calcium reactors have something to do with pH levels, but why can't I just use baking soda? Why can't I just use supplements instead of continuously injecting calcium into the system? I really haven't done a search yet to see if this topic has been discussed in other forums but I just wanted to get some opinions.

Thanks.

 

[adams0816]

a calcium reactor, takes all the work from dosing & adjusting ph to a minimal. Use a control unit(ph), calcium reactor, calcium media & co2 with guage,bubble counter. Over the long run it saves time & money. All of the expence is up front. once you get it all set up the reactor does all the work.

 

[gsxrguru2]

can't wait to get mine, I'm so sick of dosing daily and seeing the levels (specifically dkh) flucuate all the time.

 

[SpaceCase]

A calcium reactor is one of the better things you can do for your system. Not only can you adjust your calcium level anywhere you wish, even greater than 500 PPM, a calcium reactor also allows for very stable PH, in the 8.2 - 8.4 range, and alkalinity greater than 2.5. And its all automatic following initial set-up. Your clams and LPS corals will open wider and be healthier. I dosed Kalkwasser for some time with less than optimal results. A calcium reactor is the only way to go. Some are expensive. Check out MyReefCreations.com. He will build a anything from a small system, to a system sized for an aquarium at Sea World, reasonably. Be patient, it takes a little longer than you might anticipate. But the quality is good, and the price is excellent. Get one. You'll love it.

 

[rkl303]

I think from my reading it also has to do with consistency...if you have levels fluctating constantly you might not have sufficient resources when you are planning for growth.

 

[Devaji108]

I would to a lot of research before you go out a get oneÃ"šÃ‚¡K..is it necessary for your set up? What are the demands of Ca? what do you plan on adding/have in your tank?
Think it over before you go out and get one. DonÃ"šÃ‚¡Ã"šÃ‚¦t get me wrong I am not devaluing a CA reactor in any way. I am thinking about it too, however I do think itÃ"šÃ‚¡Ã"šÃ‚¦s peoples nature to see some thing they donÃ"šÃ‚¡Ã"šÃ‚¦t have and think they need it in fact it was an impulse buy from the start. If you are have/thinking of doing a SPS and you are supplementing a lot than yes it may be the way to go. But not knowing your system all I can say is research.
If you got a few hundred dollars burning a whole in your pocket then go for itÃ" Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ãƒ"šÃ‚º
I guess the point I am trying to make is find out if it is necessary for your tank or is it just another cool toy that you get to mess with..

 

[jonthefb]

not to mention the average Ca reactor set up can run anywhere from 400-600 dollars! it is definately an investment, makes the reef tank much more stable, and takes the hassle out of dosing irregularly. definately not for the novice, do your research and see if you can work one into your budget. MyReefCreations makes an excellent reactor as does Geo.

they basically work by keeping the water in the reactor tower at a very low (acidic) pH which very slowly eats away at the media that is in the tower (crushed coral, or other reactor media) and the by-product of this reaction is pure Ca+ ions and pure OH- anions which is dripped very continuously back into the sump/aquarium and the corals combine to form CaOH for their skeletal tissue!

good luck
Jon
jon

 

[denverhoss]

Now that I have plenty of extra CO2 around (for home brewing) I'm planning to build one. You may want to read up on the debate about single pass reactors vs. the recirculating kind. I'm planning to go with a single pass which prevents the acidic water from entering the tank, but most of the ones you'll see are recriculating.